diff --git a/web/src/compose_setup.ts b/web/src/compose_setup.ts
index 7ca7cae764..6d20a47659 100644
--- a/web/src/compose_setup.ts
+++ b/web/src/compose_setup.ts
@@ -598,12 +598,6 @@ export function initialize(): void {
     });
 
     $("textarea#compose-textarea").on("focus", () => {
-        // To shortcut a delay otherwise introduced when the topic
-        // input is blurred, we immediately update the topic's
-        // displayed text and compose-area placeholder when the
-        // compose textarea is focused.
-        const $input = $<HTMLInputElement>("input#stream_message_recipient_topic");
-        compose_recipient.update_topic_displayed_text($input.val());
         compose_recipient.update_compose_area_placeholder_text();
         compose_fade.do_update_all();
         if (narrow_state.narrowed_by_reply()) {
@@ -633,25 +627,20 @@ export function initialize(): void {
         compose_validate.validate_and_update_send_button_status();
     });
 
-    // To track delayed effects originating from the "blur" event
-    // and its use of setTimeout, we need to set up a variable to
-    // reference the timeout's ID across events.
-    let recipient_focused_timeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
     $("input#stream_message_recipient_topic").on("focus", () => {
-        // We don't want the `recently-focused` class removed via
-        // a setTimeout from the "blur" event, if we're suddenly
-        // focused again.
-        clearTimeout(recipient_focused_timeout);
-        const $compose_recipient = $("#compose-recipient");
         const $input = $<HTMLInputElement>("input#stream_message_recipient_topic");
         compose_recipient.update_topic_displayed_text($input.val(), true);
         compose_recipient.update_compose_area_placeholder_text();
         // When the topic input is focused, we no longer treat
         // the recipient row as low attention, as we assume the user
         // is doing something that requires keeping attention called
-        // to the recipient row.
+        // to the recipient row
         compose_recipient.set_high_attention_recipient_row();
-        $compose_recipient.addClass("recently-focused");
+
+        $("input#stream_message_recipient_topic").one("blur", () => {
+            compose_recipient.update_topic_displayed_text($input.val());
+            compose_recipient.update_compose_area_placeholder_text();
+        });
     });
 
     $("input#stream_message_recipient_topic").on("input", () => {
@@ -660,41 +649,14 @@ export function initialize(): void {
     });
 
     $("#private_message_recipient").on("focus", () => {
-        // We don't want the `.recently-focused` class removed via
-        // setTimeout from the "blur" event, if we're suddenly
-        // focused again.
-        clearTimeout(recipient_focused_timeout);
-        const $compose_recipient = $("#compose-recipient");
         // When the DM input is focused, we no longer treat
         // the recipient row as low attention, as we assume the user
         // is doing something that requires keeping attention called
         // to the recipient row
         compose_recipient.set_high_attention_recipient_row();
-        $compose_recipient.addClass("recently-focused");
     });
 
     $("input#stream_message_recipient_topic, #private_message_recipient").on("blur", () => {
-        const $compose_recipient = $("#compose-recipient");
-        const $input = $<HTMLInputElement>("input#stream_message_recipient_topic");
-        // To correct for an edge case when clearing the topic box
-        // via the left sidebar, we do the following actions after a
-        // delay; these will not have an effect for DMs, and so can
-        // safely be referenced here. Note, too, that if focus shifts
-        // immediately from the topic box to the compose textarea,
-        // we update these things immediately so that no delay is
-        // apparent on the topic's displayed text or the placeholder
-        // in the empty compose textarea.
-        // Also, in case a user quickly opens and closes the compose
-        // box, we need to clear a previously set timeout before
-        // setting a new one. Otherwise, the compose box can open
-        // in a strange state displaying *general chat* and italicizing
-        // the topic input.
-        clearTimeout(recipient_focused_timeout);
-        recipient_focused_timeout = setTimeout(() => {
-            compose_recipient.update_topic_displayed_text($input.val());
-            compose_recipient.update_compose_area_placeholder_text();
-            $compose_recipient.removeClass("recently-focused");
-        }, 500);
         compose_recipient.update_recipient_row_attention_level();
     });
 
diff --git a/web/styles/compose.css b/web/styles/compose.css
index 8f7412644d..70e75738aa 100644
--- a/web/styles/compose.css
+++ b/web/styles/compose.css
@@ -1247,10 +1247,9 @@ textarea.new_message_textarea {
    interactions (e.g., Shift-Tabbing from the compose textarea
    to the topic box) show instant changes, so we don't need to
    accommodate them here, which we prevent by applying the
-   transitions only when focus isn't within the recipient row,
-   or hasn't recently been within the topic box. */
+   transitions only when focus isn't within the recipient row. */
 #compose.compose-box-open {
-    .low-attention-recipient-row:not(.recently-focused, :focus-within) {
+    .low-attention-recipient-row:hover:not(:focus-within) {
         #compose_select_recipient_widget,
         #compose_recipient_box,
         #compose-direct-recipient .pill-container {